Official start of the Perimeter Trail in Greenbelt Park

---

See the Hiking Trails web page for a trail map.

---

Length: 5.4-mile loop
Time: 3 hours
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

The Perimeter Trail is the longest of four trails at Greenbelt Park. As the name implies, it circles the entire park, passing both the picnic areas on the northern end and the campground on the southern end. It connects directly to the Dogwood Nature Trail and the Blueberry Nature Trail, and you can get to the Azalea Trail as well by taking a very short detour.

While there are a number of access points for the Perimeter Trail, the best place to start is at the Sweetgum Picnic Area. Once parked, walk back to the main road. Directly across from the stop sign is a path that leads down to the trail.

Connector trail to the Perimeter Trail near the Sweetgum Picnic Area in Greenbelt Park

You will see the park police station when you reach the intersection with the Perimeter Trail. I took a left, passing the station on my right, which set me hiking around in the counterclockwise direction. While it makes no real difference which way you go, the intended route is actually in the clockwise direction (right). I say this because there are mileage posts along the trail, and they count up when hiking in that direction. In fact, if you take a right, just a few minutes away is the official start of the Perimeter Trail, marked with a 0 Mile sign. Do remember that this trail report is written in the counterclockwise direction.

Passing the police station on the right when hiking the Perimeter Trail in Greenbelt Park sets you off in the counterclockwise direction

The Perimeter Trail runs through the forest, so expect temperatures at least 10°F cooler than out in the open sun. It is a narrow trail, flanked by ferns and other vegetation—places where ticks love to hide and wait for deer, squirrels, and hikers. Try to avoid brushing up against anything green if possible, and if you do, check yourself for the pests. They do not drop out of the trees onto your head. They wait low to the ground and are most likely to attach themselves to the front of your legs as you walk into them. Check yourself frequently to catch them before they make it up under your shorts, if you are hiking in shorts (I recommend long pants). Tick warnings are posted throughout the park, and while I never encountered any during three separate visits, apparently they are a major problem.

Typical terrain at the northern end of the Perimeter Trail

After a half-mile is a T-intersection, at which point you need to take a left. Taking a right leads out of the park to the Friends Community School, a private Quaker school in College Park, Maryland. The Perimeter Trail runs within sight distance of the complex for the next half mile. Along the way you will pass another unmarked intersection with a trail that leads to the main park road, which is not too far away on your left. Neither of these side trails are on the Greenbelt Park map. The Perimeter Trail is marked with yellow blazes painted on the trees and on the trail signs, so if in doubt as to which way to go, look for these markers and follow them like Hansel and Gretel breadcrumbs.

The Perimeter Trail in Greenbelt park passes a Quaker school on the northwest side of the trail.

The next point of interest is the connector trail to the Dogwood Nature Trail. The intersection is clearly marked with a sign. The Dogwood Nature Trail is a 1.5-mile loop, so if you want to add it to your hike, you can do so and end up right back at this point.

Intersection of the Perimeter and Dogwood Nature trails in Greenbelt Park

At the one-mile mark, the trail comes to its first substantial hill: downhill stretch that appears to be heading to a ravine of some sort. Up until this point the trail surface has been very smooth, but now tree roots break through the surface making it important to watch your step. It only takes a minute to get to the bottom before the trail immediately begins heading back uphill. The terrain remains hilly for the next .3 mile, but at no point does the hike veer beyond moderate in difficulty.

You will soon cross a muddy but picturesque creek called Still Creek, which runs east to west through Greenbelt Park.

Still Creek in Greenbelt Park

Just a few minutes later, 1.5 miles into the hike, is the first of two intersections with the Blueberry Nature Trail, a 1-mile, U-shaped trail. This intersection is marked with a directional sign and a ramp built by the Boy Scouts. Like a “Bridge to Nowhere,” it sits in the middle of the forest with no apparent purpose. The second intersection is just .1 mile up ahead and is also marked with a sign, but no Boy Scout ramp.

Northern intersection of the Perimeter and Blueberry Nature trails in Greenbelt Park

Southern intersection of the Perimeter and Blueberry Nature trails in Greenbelt Park

Hiking another five minutes beyond the second Blueberry Nature Trail intersection brings you to a trail that connects with the D Loop of Greenbelt Park Campground. There is another connector trail to D Loop about .6 mile farther ahead. If you are camping in D Loop, either of these trails are the best way to access the Perimeter Trail, otherwise, stick to the Sweetgum Picnic Area. The terrain between the two campground trails is as flat as a pancake.

Northern connector trail between the Perimeter Trail and the D Loop of the Greenbelt Park Campground

The only confusing intersection on the entire hike is that with the southern campground connector trail, which comes at the 2.25-mile mark. At this point the Perimeter Trail comes to a T-intersection. A directional sign states that taking a left leads to the campground while taking a right leads to the College Park University Metro Station (see the Taking the Metro to Washington D. C. web page for information). It goes without saying that you don’t want to go either way. However, the park map shows that the Perimeter Trail continues on the other side of a creek—Deep Creek—that lies straight in front of you. You can see the Perimeter Trail on the other side, but you cannot see any place to cross the creek other than by Lewis-and-Clarking-It™. The trick is to take the turn to the Metro. A short ways down, the Perimeter Trail veers off and crosses the creek via an earthen foot bridge. A Perimeter Trail sign points the way.

Take the trail to the Metro to continue on the Perimeter Trail at the southern end of Greenbelt Park

For the next half mile, the Perimeter Trail runs along Deep Creek, though you can’t always see it due to the trees. The entire stretch is on perfectly flat terrain.

The southern end of the Perimeter Trail in Greenbelt Park runs along Deep Creek

Near the 3-mile point on the hike is another intersection with a trail that leads to a paved bike path. It is here where the Perimeter Trail takes an abrupt left turn, crosses Deep Creek via a bridge, and begins heading north. A boardwalk keeps hikers out of a wet area.

Boardwalk through the wet area at the southern end of the Perimeter Trail

As you approach the spot where the trail crosses the main park road near the campground, the terrain becomes a little hilly and the trail surface rather rooty. This is a result of rain water eroding away the top soil as it rushes downhill towards Deep Creek. Judging from the previous boardwalk and the slightly wet condition of the trail, this area is most likely prone to becoming muddy after a storm.

Typical terrain on the southeastern side of the Perimeter Trail in Greenbelt Park

The minor hills along the Perimeter Trail are of little concern to anyone who set out on a five-mile hike to begin with. What is more disconcerting to hikers looking to spend time in nature is that for the rest of the hike the trail runs right along either the Baltimore-Washington Parkway or I-95, if not close enough to actually see the highways, certainly close enough to hear the rush of passing cars. The solitude of nature ends here.

Often on the eastern side of the Perimeter Trail in Greenbelt Park, the Baltimore-Washington Parkway is just a stone’s throw away

The next point of interest is the crossing of Still Creek. You crossed this same creek on the western side of the park, and as was the case there, the area is lush with greenery. Be on the lookout for ticks whenever you brush up against any of the vegetation.

Still Creek on the eastern side of Greenbelt Park

The Perimeter Trail continues north, now running along North Branch Still Creek, and at 4.4 miles into the hike comes to the intersection with a trail that leads to the main park road near the parking lot for the Dogwood Nature Trail. According to the trail map, a left leads to the road, and the Perimeter Trail continues to the right. However, there is also an option to go straight, which is not on the map (I assume this leads to the portion of the park road that loops around the picnic areas). To stay on the Perimeter Trail, take a right.

Intersection on the eastern side of the Perimeter Trail with a connector that leads to the Dogwood Trail

At this point you are following the main park road as it loops around the picnic areas. A portion of the trail runs right along the park boundary, so there is a fence on one side and the road on the other. You are also within spitting distance of I-95 for a short stretch.

I-95 as seen from the northeastern side of Perimeter Trail in Greenbelt Park

The final leg of the hike passes behind the Greenbelt Park Headquarters building, and soon afterwards the trail crosses the park road near the entrance. It is at this intersection where the official start of the Perimeter Trail i located. To complete the hike, cross the road, pass by the police station, and continue until you reach the entrance to the Sweetgum Picnic Area parking lot.

As with all trails at Greenbelt Park, there is no reason to hike the Perimeter Trail unless you just want exercise or something to do. I saw a couple of joggers, and the trail is well suited for such an endeavor since the surface is mostly smooth and there aren’t too many hills. However, those looking for scenic beauty need to look elsewhere. The hike is uneventful from start to finish.

Back to the Top